Abrasive equipment



June 18, 1940. 4 v. E. MlNlCl-l Er AL 1 2,204,610

ABRASIVE tQUIPMENT Fihd Dec. 30, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mama? V BY fiwm/QMZ firm e v ATTORNEYS ,w moving blades.

Patented June 18, 1940 v UNITED .STATES ABRASIVE PATENT. OFFICE EQUIPMENT Verne E. Minich and Gerald N. Grove, Mishawaka, Ind., assignors to The American Foundry Equipment Company notation of Delaware Mishawaka, Ind., a cor- Application December 30, 1 933,Serial No. 704,777

13 Claims.

i plication of Verne E. Minich, Serial No; 692,743,

flied October 9, 1933.

This invention is concerned with the provision of improved means for feeding abrasive into the path of the moving blades. The machine comprises generally a rotor including a disc which may be removably mounted on a rotatably mounted drive shaft. A drum member is centrally mounted on one side of the disc. The blades project from the drum side of the disc and are arranged in uniform spaced relationship. The

inner ends of the blades are spaced from the drum member so as to provide a free end open passage between the periphery of the drum and the inner ends of the blades.

The abrasive is fed on to the outer periphery of the drum by-means of a feed pipe which is adjustable in position to deposit the abrasive on the drum peripheryat the desired point. The drum periphery may be covered or carpeted with '5 a blanket of wear resisting rubber which operates to retain the abrasive on the drum periphery until centrifugally thrown therefrom. As a modified arrangement the drum periphery may be provided with a plurality of transversely exl tending ribs which may be arranged in radially" staggered relationship to the throwing blades of the machine. The ribs or corrugations operate to collect the abrasive fed on to the drum periphery' as individual charges which are thrown u from the rotating drum into the path of the moving blades. By means of this arrangement more complete directional control of the thrown abrasive, as well as a more uniform distribution of the abrasiveover the surface operated upon,

isaccomplished. Each blade. picks up a regufllated amount of the abrasive charge thrown in front of it. The blade operates to change the direction of the movement of the abrasive particles into approximately the direction of the Substantially simultaneously the blade operates to bat, hurl or throw the abrasive at blasting velocity in a predetermined direction. The discharge end of the feed pipe is so constructed as to distribute the abrasive uni- 50 formly over the peripheral width of the drum.

throw the abrasive at an abrading velocity against the work operated upon under full directional control and distribute the abrasive uniformly over the surface being treated.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means for feeding the abrasive into the path of the moving blades in the most effective and eflicient manner.

Another object of this invention is to provide comprises few moving parts, which is simple and strong in construction, which can be economically made and assembled, which has a low power consumption for the work done, which imparts to the abrasive a highly abrasive velocity, which operates in such a manner as to reduce the wear 'of the abrasive particles on the various parts of the machine, which occupies a small space area, which eifects uniform distribution of the abrasive over the work, and which is highly adaptable for the cleaning of metal sheets, castings, forgings, metal parts and other articles.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

In order that a clearer understanding of our invention may be had, attention is hereby directed to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this application and illustrating certain possible embodiments of our invention. Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a face view of the abrasive machine with the abrasive particles being shown fed into the machine and thrown therefrom, certain parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction;

- Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view through the machine, this view being taken online 1-2 ofFig.1; V

Fig. 3 is. a face view 'of an abrasive machine of somewhat modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through the machine shown in Fig. 3, this view being taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3,; and

operation of the machine shown in Figs. 3and 4 and particularly the action of the blades" when operating upon successive charges of the abrasive thrown in the path thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

An abrasive machine, as shown in Figs. land 2, comprises generally a disc member I of wear resisting metal and of .generally circular shape removably mounted on a rotatable drive shaft 5.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the The hub 6 fixed to the disc by means of removable bolts 1 connects the drive shaft to the disc I. A drum member comprising a cylindrical side wall portion 2 is centrally mounted on the disc. The drum side wall may be cast as an integral part of the disc member I if desired. A plurality of blades are radially arranged in uniform spaced relationship around the periphery of the disc member with the disc I or they may be detachably secured thereto as found convenient and desirable. The blades are preferably made of hard wear resisting metal and are of considerable thickness to give long wear. The radial length of-the blades and the drum diameter may both be varied as circumstances may require. A path for the moving abrasive, however, is preferably provided between the inner end of the blades and the drum periphery. A ring member 23 joins the blades 3 and gives rigidity to the assembly. The ring member 23 may be cast integral with the blade 3 and the disc I or it may be bolted or otherwise secured thereto.

The open side of the rotor is closed by means of a stationary disc 8 supported by bolt l5 extending through the upstanding flange of a frame member 9 supported by a suitable frame -I An elongated opening I1 is cut through the stationary disc 8 to receive the discharge end |3 of the feed pipe l2 through which the abrasive is fed on to the drum periphery 2. The feed pipe I2 is adjustably supported by means of a. bracket I l, one end of which is secured to the feed pipe and the other end adjustably secured to the screw I5 by means of the nut l6, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The feed pipe H and the closure disc 8 are held stationary during the op-. -eration of the machine but both may be adjusted so as to position the discharge end |3 of the feed pipe |2 at any desired location with respect to the drum periphery 2 and the moving blades 3. The direction of discharge of the abrasive from the rotor can thus be varied as desired.

The discharge end I3 of the feed pipe I2 is shaped to provide an elongated nozzle opening which will distribute the abrasive uniformly over the full width of the side wall 2 of the drum. The side wall 2 may be covered by a rubber blanket 2| or other material which will frictionally retain to a limited extent the abrasive particles deposited'thereon. The blanket 2| is preferably .blades as illustrated in Fig. 1.

vulcanized to the drum periphery 2 and is further held in position by an outwardly flared lip 20 extending from the drum side wall 2.

A regulated supply of abrasive is fed from the discharge end l3 of the feed pipe |2 on to the friction surface 2| of the drum. The abrasive is retained on the rubber surface 2| and is carried along by the rotating drum until tangentially thrown therefrom at a speed which is approximately that of the drum periphery. The abrasive, tangentially thrown from the rotating drum, shoots outwardly into the path of the moving Particles are caught by the moving blades 3 advancing at a great speed. The direction of the moving particles when contacted by the blade is then changed to substantially the direction of the moving blade. As the blade is moved further the velocity of the particles is further increased as the particles deposited thereon are batted, hurled or thrown centrifugally from the rotating blade in a predetermined direction.

The abrasive particles 0 are variously dis- The blade 3 may be cast integral tributed by the moving blades over an are which approximates one-quarter of the drum circumference and are uniformly distributed over the work W along a path approximately two and one-half feet in length. The abrasive particles are given little incentive to slide along the surface of the blade since the particles are given an impelling force which is substantially at right angles to the moving blades. The abrasive is thus given little opportunity to wear the blades.

There is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 a blasting machine of somewhat modified construction. The main structural difference resides in the provision of ribs or corrugations 33 positioned at spaced intervals across the side wall 2 of the drum. The blades 3 radially arranged around the disc member 2 are spaced from the sidewall 2 of the drum so as to provide a clear passage therebetween. The blades as shown may be generally V-shaped with the rear side wall 35 of one blade and the throwing side wall 34 of the following blade forming a slightly contracted discharge outlet through which the abrasive is thrown and distributed. A ring member 23 extends around the radially spaced blades and may be cast integral therewith or secured thereto by w the advancing side of the ribs 33 and is thrown as separate charges into the path of the moving blades 3. Satisfactory results have been obtained by providing a rib 33 on the drum for each blade spaced peripherally about the drum. The ribs 33 are also preferably arranged in staggered relationship with respect to the blades 3 as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, so that the abrasive charge will be thrown between the blades before it is struck by the following blade. The abrasive thrown from the respective ribs travels at less velocity than the moving blades. Consequently, the abrasive is struck by a blade which follows the rib from which it is thrown. As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 5, it is believed that the abrasive charge a thrown forwardly by. the rib R is struck by the following blade A at the point A and the abrasive thrown from the rib S is struck by the blade B when it arrives at the point B. The wheel travels at approximately 2250 revolutions per minute and' the abrasive a is thus impinged upon the work W with abrasive velocity uniformly over a path which is approximately twice the diameter of the rotor. For example, a rotor having a diameter of nineteen and one-half inches moving at a speed of 2250 revolutions per minute would-effectively clean a path approximately two and one-half to three and one-half feet in length with the work advancing from under the wheel from six to ten feet per minute. The abrasive thrown from the rotating drum in charges is thrown and dispersed by the blades so as to clean the work evenly and uniformly over the area acted upon. The abrasive is caught by the ribs,

provides ample space for insertion of the dis-' charge end l3 of the feed pipe l2.

The machine above described possesses a high degree of efliciency. The velocity given the abrasive by the throwing action exerted by the rotating drum is not slowed up or impaired by any interference due to the blade action. The

blades 3 pick up the flying abrasive and augment or increase its velocity to substantially the velocity of the rotating blades. When the machine is rotated at approximately 2250 revolutions per minute, the abrasive is given a velocity suflicient to efliciently and effectively scour forgings and castings of the hardest material.

The direction in which the abrasive is thrown may be regulated by the discharge end l3 of the 1 feed pipe with respect to the moving drum and blades. The abrasive is discharged from approximately one-fourth of the wheel circumference under normal operating conditions of 2250 revolutions per minute. The area of discharge, however, will depend upon the rotating speed of the machine, the length of the blades, the

spect to the blades 3 by adjusting the position of the drum 2 with-respect to the disc I.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figures 3, 4, and 5 of the drawings is claimed in our divisional application, Serial No. 271,992, filed May 5, 1939.

The machine above described is adapted for a variety of different uses such as for the cleaning of metal sheets and other articles. The machine may be mounted on any suitable apparatus. The machine is made of few parts, and may be inexpensively manufactured and assembled. It is furthermore, strong and durable in construction, safe and substantially foolproof in operation, requires little floor space, and is highly efiicient.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An airless abrasive machine for throwing abrasive particles at a blasting velocity comprising a rotatable drum, means for depositing abrasive on the outer periphery of said drum, and means spaced from and arranged around said drum for increasing the speed of the abrasive thrown by the rotating drum, said depositing means being so arranged that the abrasive moves but once across the path of said speed increasing means.

2. An abrasive machine including in combination, a rotatable drum, means for depositing abrasive on the outer periphery of said drum,

and a plurality of radially extending blades spaced from said drum and operative to throw the abrasive in a predetermined direction as it is centrifugally thrown from the drum.

3. Anabrasive blast machine including in combination, a rotatably mounted member, a

.drum fixed to said member, blades spaced from said drum and peripherally positioned around said member, and means for depositing abrasive on the outer periphery of said drum.

4. -An abrasive machine including in combination, a rotatably mounted disc, a drum centrally mounted on one side of said disc, blades carried by said disc and. radially arranged around but independent of said drum, said blades having a radial length which is I afraction of the disc radius, and oil-center means-adjacent the inner end of said blades for depositing abrasive on said drum.

5. An abrasive machine including in combination, a rotatable shaft, a disc removably mounted on the end of said shaft, a plurality of throwing blades radially arranged and laterally projecting from one side of said disc, a drum for feeding abrasive outwardly across the inner ends of said blades and into the path of movement thereof and a stationary disc enclosing said blades.

6. A rotor for throwing a blast of abrasive comprisin a rotatably mounted disc, a drum fixed to said disc, a plurality of blades radially arranged around said drum and laterally extending from said disc, said blades having a radial length which is less than the disc radius, a stationary disc for closing the open side of the rotor, and off-center means adjacent the inner ends of said blades extending through said stationary disc for depositing abrasive on said drum.

7. An airless abrasive machine comprising a rotatable shaft, a disc removably mounted on the end of said shaft, a drum centrally mounted on said disc, a plurality of throwing blades radially arrangedand laterally projecting from one side of said disc, said blades extending from the outer periphery of said disc radially inwardly. a fractional distance of the disc radius, and adjustable means adjacent the inner ends of said blades for depositing abrasive on said, drum, said drum being operative to throw theabrasive tangentially therefrom and substantially radially across the inner ends of said blades.

8. Anairless abrasive machine comprising in combination, a rotatable shaft, a disc removably mounted on the end of said shaft, a drum fixed to and laterally extending from one side of said disc, a plurality of throwing blades spaced from the periphery of said drum radially arranged and laterally projecting from said disc, and adjustable means for depositing abrasive on said drum. 9. An abrasive machine comprising a rotatable drum, means for depositing abrasive on the outer periphery thereof, means spaced from the drum for throwing the abrasive as it leaves the rotating drum, and a carpet covering on the outer periphery of said drum operative to hold the abrasive on the rotating drum against sliding movement and until centrifugally thrown therefrom.

10. An abrasive machine comprising in combination, a rotatable shaft. a disc mounted on the end of said shaft, a drum fixed to and laterally extending from one side of said disc, a plurality of throwing blades spaced from the periphery of said drum radially arranged and laterally projecting from said disc, and a reinforcing ring connecting the projecting ends of said blades.-

11. An airless abrasive machine comprising a rotatable drum, a .feed pipe, said pipe having a discharge outlet positioned adjacent to and extending into the machine and across substantially the full width of the drum periphery, and means for throwing the abrasive as it leaves the rotating drum; said discharge outlet being so arranged that theabrasive moves but once across the path tangentially therefrom and thus give the charge an initial velocity, in the general direction of rotation of said blades, said blades being operative to bat and hurl the moving abrasive so as to increase the velocity thereof suificient to exert the desired abrasive action upon the material to be cleaned when impinged by the abrasive particles.

13. An abrasive machine comprising, a rotatable drum, means for uniformly distributing abrasive on the outer periphery of said drum, a series of V-shaped blades radially arranged around said drum for throwing the abrasive as itleaves the rotating drum, each of said blades having the apex thereof directed inwardly so as v to provide a contracted abrasive discharge opening between adjacent blades.

VERNE E. MiNIcH. GERALD N. GROVE. 

